Combined excavator and conveyer.



PATBNTED 00T. 16, 1906.

A. G. CAMERON. COMBINED BXGAVATOR AND GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25,1906. V

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

-VIL

:TER: co., wAsHmcroN, D. z:4

No. 833,300. PATBNTED 00T. 1e, 1906. A. G. CAMERON.

GOMBINBDEXGAVATOR AND GONIVEYER. APPLIoATIoN FILED JUNE 25.1900.

z'sanBTs-SHBET 2.

fill Noun Plrlks ca., v/Axnnvarou, v c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COMBINED EXCAVATOR AND CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

Application led June 25,1906. Serial No. 323,398.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER G. CAM- ERON, builder, of the city of|Winnipeg, in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in a Combined Excavator and Conveyer, ofwhich the following is a s ecification.

My invention re ates to improvements in combined excavators andconveyers, and the object of the invention is to provide a light,strong, convenient, and efiicient machine which is more especiallyadapted to the digging and handling of loose earth direct from the cutto a Wagon or other such like vehicle.

Further objects of the invention are to devise an excavator which may berun to any position and remain completely under the control of a singleoperator and also to avoid the necessary limitation of the cut asoccasioned by a motive power not entirely dependent with the moving bodyof the machine; and it consists, essentially, of two parallel bodyportions, axles at either end extending transversely across and throughthe body portions and bearing therein aset of gear-wheels rigid with theaxles and within the frame, a set of gear-chains extending around the oposing pair of gear-wheels, cross-bars depen ent from the chains, fingersextending from the cross-bars, a chute or channel-way below anddependent from the main frame, guides within the channel for the chains,cutting-knives rigid with the rear shaft and outside the frame, forksextending from the forward end and designed to cross between thefingers, a platform from the main frame, and at the forward end a powerdriving means supported on the platform, a belt connected with powerdriving means to the forward transverse shaft, an operating-handleextending rearwardly from the frame, a framework, a truck bearing fromthe aforesaid track, and means for pivotally working the main frame andits dependent members from the latter truck, all arranged andconstructed as hereinafter more especially described.

Figure l is a perspective view of my complete invention. Fig. 2 is adetail sectional front elevation of the chute, showing the anle-barguideways and the fingers dependent om the chains. Fig. 3 is a sidesectional view as in Fig. 2, the section being taken in the plane X XFig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the link employed in the chain,from which the finger cross-bars are dependent. Fig. 5 is a detailedside elevation of the forward end of the main frame, showing the forksin operative position with the fingers. Fig. 6 is a detailed front viewof the crosstruck and the hangers. Fig. 7 is a vertical section throughthe main frame forward of the rear shaft, showing the relative positionon the shaft of the gears and the cuttingknife.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

A represents the opposing longitudinal members of the main frame, boltedonto the other through an intervening strip of board Al or the like.

B B are forward and rear shafts, respectively, extending across andthrough the frame and bearing therein.

C Crepresent a set of gear-wheels rigid with the shaft and placed Withinthe longitudinal members of the frame. It will be understood that theboard A does not extend the full length of the members, but leaves anopen space at either end therebetween, and t erein the gears are placed.

D Dl are up er and lower trestle-Works se cured forwardlpy andrearwardly to the frame and give increased rigidity and strength to theframe Without unnecessary additional weight. Blocks D2 are spaced alongthe longitudinals over which the trestlerod passes. Dependent fromtheupper central opposing pair of such rods is a roller E', passing acrossthe frame.

F F are continuous linked chains passing around the similarlaterally-displaced gears C and over the roller E. Various links of thechain differ from the remainder in design in that they have wingsextending from their outer faces. Such. members are inserted in opposingpairs where required within the chains. Connected to such links arecrossbars G, which extend transversely beyond the chain for a purposehereinafter explained. The method of securing the links to the crossbarsis sim ly by riveting through the wings F2 to the }bars. Extendingupwardly and outwardly from the bars are fingers G, suitably placedalong the bar.

G2 is a chute or channel-way dis osed below the main frame and supportedy means of straps G3, passing thereunder, and the width of the chute isthat of the frame.

I-I represents angle-bars secured to the inner upright faces of thechute and form on IOO rio

either side therebetween a guideway for the extendingA ends of thecross-bars G, as mentioned above.

II represents knives of any suitable construction, supported rigidly onthe rear shaft B and outside the frame.

I is a handle dependent from the main frame, having a cross-grip I atits end for convenience in operating.

J represents forks extending inwardly and downwardly from the forwardend of the frame and are designed to pass between the fingers in theirrotation.

K is a platform supported by the longitudinals A A and disposedforwardly.

K is a motive power of any suitable form,

referably a gas-engine, and K2 is a pulley on the shaft B, which isbelted to the drivewheel of the engine.

L L are tracks formed from the tubing and held horizontally by means ofsupports or legs L, secured at their upper ends to the cross-bars L2,dependent from the track. The legs are suitably braced and spread togive ample bearing to the surface, and across the bottom is placed aplank L3, which prevents the framework from sinking into the ground. Thetrack is of a length equal to or greater than the over-all length of theframe supporting the gears and its operating-handle.

M is a second track, formed from opposing angle-bars bolted together bymeans of crossbars l at the ends and is subtended from Vthe track L by aset of four rollers M2, de-

signed to operate .on the pipe-track, the latter or angle-bar trackextending on either side beyond the upper track and is substantially atright angles thereto.

N is an upper circular plate, supported by means of four rollers N',bearing upon the horizontal arms of the angle-bars composing the track.

N2 is a lower circular plate flush with the upper plate and pivotallysupported therefrom by a king-bolt O.

P is a rod fastened to the face of the platform K and passingtransversely thereacross and extending on either side.

Q Q represent a set of hangers looped around the extending ends of therod P and with their extremities secured within or to the lower plateN2.

If it is required, a canvas belt can be passed between the chains, beingsecured thereto by means of the rivets which hold the crossplates G tothe chain. Any suitable means may be employed for applying a brake tothe rollers M2, such being completely under the control of the operator.

In the actual machine the parts will be so arranged and the rod P soplaced that the main frame and its dependent members will be practicallybalanced on either side of the rod P, as such allows easy manipulationfor the operator. The double truck and the the chute, being deposited atthe other end directly into a wagon or other such like conveyance. l

The forks J serve only to clear or clean out any earth that tends toremain between the fingers. It will readily be seen that an excavationof considerable extent may be made with but a single position of thelegsL and no loss of time would be occasioned by double handling, as thewagons could be filled successively and drawn away. If desired, a secondchute could be attached to form a conl tinuation of the first, and by itthe earth may be further distributed.

Although I show one form of drive, yet I wish it to be distinctlyunderstood that a cable or rope may be used with'pulleys or a rubberbelt on spools and also that according `to the requirements the fingersmay be displaced and a solid scoop or blade or buckets may besubstituted, the blades being more especially adapted to sandy soil andthe buckets for the lifting of water, muddy soil,

` grain, coal, or the like. In these latter cases the forks J would beremoved.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a device of the class described,the combination with the supporting trackframe of a truck, a framedependent from the truck, a set of endless carrier-chains, a set ofcutting-knives to the rear of the dependent frame, and a motive-powersupport at the forward end, means for imparting motion to the chain, achute below the frame, and an operating-handle, as and for the purposespecified.

2.- In a device of the class described, the combination with thetrack-frame of a double truck, a frame dependent and swiveled from thelower truck, set of gears disposed forwardly and rearwardly within theframe, endless chains engaging with the gears, carriers supported fromthe chains, cuttingknives dependent from the rear gear-shaft, a chutebelow the frame-guides for the chains within the chute, a motive powersupported at the forward end of the frame, and a handle at the rear, andmeans for transmitting motioili to the gears, as and for the purposespeciiec 3. In a device of the class described, the combination with thesupportin -truck of a lower frame, pivotally supporte therefrom, sets ofgears bearing forwardly and rearwardly in the frame, reinforcingtrestle-Work IIO for the frame, a roller pivoted from the trestlework,endless gear-chains passing over the roller and around the gears, platesdisposed transversely across the frame and dependent from thegear-chains, fingers extending from the respective plates, a chuteextending below the frame and supported therefrom, guides for the chainswithin the chute, forks extending inwardly and downwardly below, and aplatform above to' the forward end of the frame, a motive power upon theplatform, means for communicating motion to the gears, and anoperating-handle to the rear end of the frame, as and for the purposespecified.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with the endlesschain-belts, having sets of opposing flanged links therein. and thechute of a plate extending between and beyond the chains, and riveted tothe flange, ,combined carrier and cutting fingers extending from theplates and angle-bars guideways, secured to the inner upright face ofthe chute, and designed to receive the extending ends of thecross-plates, as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the uprightend supports or legs of a longitudinal track, a lateral trucktrackdependent therefrom, and a lower truck supported from the lateral track,hangers pivotally secured from the lower truck, a lower frame pivotedfrom the hangers, and substantially in equilibrium, and having endlesschains with cutting-carrier thereon, cutting-knife to the rear, anddependent from the frame an operating-handle, a power mechanism, andmeans for trans` mitting motion to the chains, as and for the purposespecified.

ALEXANDER G. CAMERON.

Witnesses:

M. A. SOMERVILLE, GERALD S. RoxBURGH.

